Stories of
American Heroes -
Brought to you from the "Home of Heroes" - Pueblo, Colorado

David L. Gifford

TAPS

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

Then good night, Peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn
Shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear,
Friend, good night.

South Dartmouth Cemetery

Born:September 18, 1844 at Dartmouth, MA

Entered
Service in the US Army from New Bedford, MA

Earned The Medal of Honor During the Civil War For heroism
May 24, 1864 at Ashepoo River, SC

Died:January
13, 1904 at the age of 59

On May 24,
1864, the Union steamer Boston was stranded under fire on the
Ashepoo River in South Carolina, while carrying a number of
Union soldiers. The commander of a small Union gunboat
volunteered to carry twenty-five sharpshooters to the vessel to
protect it, but then retreated under heavy enemy fire and
refused to continue the dangerous rescue. Second Lieutenant
George Brush and four soldiers of the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry
noted the plight of the stranded soldiers. Under Lieutenant
Brush's leadership, the five men voluntarily took a boat which,
under continuous fire from a Confederate battery, went to the
stranded steamer to ferry the soldiers to the shore. In all,
nearly 400 soldiers were rescued, the fire from the enemy being
so fierce that some were killed in the boat that took them to
shore. Still the volunteer crew of five persisted until all the
men were removed from the Boston, and she was set afire to
prevent her storehouses from being captured by the enemy.
Lieutenant Brush was awarded the Medal of Honor for this heroic
rescue, along with cavalrymen: Private William Downey, Private
John Duffey, Private David Gifford, and Private Patrick Scanlan.